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Scheduling & Booking · head to head

Doodle vs Forest

Doodle logo

Doodle

Scheduling & Booking

Find the best time for anything

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Forest logo

Forest

All industries

Stay focused, be present

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Doodle free plan restricted to one active poll and one booking page with 10-slot limit; Forest no standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • They diverge on capability: Doodle covers Group polls, Forest covers Focus timer.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Doodle and Forest actually diverge.

Attributes where Doodle and Forest differ
AttributeDoodleForest
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (iOS, Android)iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox
CategoryScheduling & BookingAll industries
Founded20072014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Doodle

  • Group polls
  • 1:1 scheduling
  • Booking pages
  • Calendar sync
  • Time zone support
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Zoom

Only in Forest

  • Focus timer
  • Virtual forest building
  • Real tree planting partnership
  • Website/app blocking
  • Statistics tracking
  • Achievements & rewards
  • Social features
  • Custom tree species

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Doodle

  • Schedulingnot Forest
  • Appointment bookingnot Forest
  • Time trackingnot Forest
  • Resource managementnot Forest
  • Team coordinationnot Forest

Forest

  • Study sessionsnot Doodle
  • Work focus timenot Doodle
  • Digital detoxnot Doodle
  • Pomodoro techniquenot Doodle
  • Phone addiction managementnot Doodle

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Doodle

  • Free plan restricted to one active poll and one booking page with 10-slot limit
  • Free users see excessive advertisements on booking pages
  • Limited customization options for poll types and response formats
  • Mobile app experiences bugs and has less polished interface than desktop version

Forest

  • No standalone desktop app; limited to browser extensions
  • Mobile app pricing varies by platform; iOS one-time purchase vs. Android different model
  • Forest Plus features required for advanced analytics and custom tag tracking

Pricing, plan by plan

Doodle

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Doodle review.

Forest

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Forest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Doodle if

  • You need group polls.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android).
  • You also want 1:1 scheduling.
Doodle review

Choose Forest if

  • You need focus timer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
  • You also want virtual forest building.
Forest review

Questions people ask

Is Doodle or Forest better?
Neither clearly leads. Doodle starts at Free and Forest at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Doodle or Forest?
Doodle starts at Free and Forest at Free.
Does Doodle or Forest run on more platforms?
Doodle runs on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android). Forest runs on iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox.
Can I use Doodle for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Doodle best used for?
Doodle is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Forest is typically brought in for.
What can Doodle do that Forest cannot?
Doodle covers Group polls, 1:1 scheduling, Booking pages, Calendar sync. Forest covers Focus timer, Virtual forest building, Real tree planting partnership, Website/app blocking. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Doodle: Does Doodle offer a free plan?

Yes. Doodle's free plan includes one active group poll, one booking page, and one 1:1 meeting, limited to 10 slots per poll with ads displayed. Premium plans start at $15/month.

Source
Forest: How much does Forest cost?

Forest has a free version with core features (timer, app blocking, group focus). Forest Plus subscription costs $3.33/month when billed annually at $39.99, with pricing varying by region and platform.

Source
Doodle: What are Doodle's pricing plans?

Professional plan costs $15/month (or $132/year). Team plan costs $19.95/user/month (or $8.95/user/month billed annually) with a two-seat minimum.

Source
Forest: What platforms does Forest support?

Forest is available on iOS (one-time purchase $3.99), Android (free with ads, or $1.99 one-time for ad-free), and as a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.

Source
Doodle: Does Doodle integrate with calendar apps?

Yes. Doodle integrates with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar to prevent double-bookings. Slack integration allows poll creation and sharing directly in Slack channels.

Source
Forest: What is Forest's tree planting program?

Forest has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant real trees. Users can spend earned focus coins to fund tree planting in Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon. Over 2.1 million real trees have been planted.

Source
Forest: Does Forest work offline?

Yes. Forest's core focus experience including the timer, tree growth, and stats works completely offline. This allows use on airplanes, subways, and areas without internet connectivity.

Source
Forest: Is there a Forest desktop app?

No. Forest does not have an official standalone desktop application. Desktop access is available through browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox only. Some users run the mobile app via emulators like BlueStacks.

Source
Forest: What features are in Forest Plus?

Forest Plus includes all Mindful Space soundscapes, custom app allowlists, advanced analytics with custom tags, exclusive tree species, 3x coin boost, and the ability to plant up to 5 real trees annually.

Source
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